Machine tool with automatic tool changing means

ABSTRACT

A machine tool having an automatic changing means and which is constructed and arranged to carry out a variety of machining operations, such as milling, drilling, boring, tapping and the like. The machine includes a rotary, four-position index work table which is carried on two movable, perpendicularly disposed slide members to provide movement of the work table along X and Z axes. A tool spindle assembly is slidably mounted on a &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;Y&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; axis between two column members with a tool spindle, spindle drive motor, gear box, tachometer and resolver mounted in axial alignment with each other for movement as a unit along said Y axis. A tool storage conveyor is disposed horizontally on said column members above the tool spindle assembly and for moving tools into a tool changing position above the tool spindle. A tool changer means is mounted between the column members and between the tool spindle assembly and the tool storage conveyor for automatically transferring tools directly between the tool storage conveyor and the tool spindle.

United States Patent 1191 Bondie et al.

[ Feb. 5', 1974 [54] MACHINE TOOL WITH AUTOMATIC TOOL 3,513,730 5/1970 Lohneis 74/826 X CH G MEANS I 3,587,873 6/1971, Lohneis 29/568X [75] Inventors: ls)alse J. Borlidimkliowlervillei) Robert Prima'y Examiner Andrcw jvuh'asz 3. ri i g h Assistant ExaminerZ. R. Bilinsky we mmng 0 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-James H. Bower; Mitchell J. [73] Assignee: Ex-Cell-O Corporation, Detroit, Hill Mich.

22 Filed: July 28, 1971 [57] ABSTRACT A machine tool having an automatic changing means [21] Appl' 166,886 and which'is constructed and arranged to carry out a variety of machining operations, such as milling, dril- 52 us. c1. 29/568 ling, g. pp and the like- The machine 51 Int. Cl. B23q 3/157 cludes a rotary, four-Position index work table which 58 Field of Search. 29/568, 26 A; 408/239 A, 71; is carried on two movable, perpendicularly disposed 90/11 D, 56 R, 58 R, 58 B; 74/826, 813 L slide members to provide movement of the work table along X and Z axes. A tool spindle assembly is slidably [56] Refere Cit d mounted on a Y axis between two column members UNITED STATES PATENTS with a tool spindle, spindle drive motor, gear box, ta-

chometer and resolver mounted in axial alignment 3%?? 322 f :32? 22:23: -'1

33 with each other for movement as a unit along said Y 3 M Daugherty 29/568 axis. A tool storage conveyor is disposed horizontally 3:271:853 (M966 Pfi D '29/26A on said column members above the tool spindle as- 3,635 5 9 1/1972 Sam at alum 29/26 A sembly and formoving tools into a tool changing posi- 3,691,655 9/ 1972 Kueimoto et a1 29/568 tion above the tool spindle. A tool changer means is 3,449,823 6/1969 Jerve 29/568 mounted between the column members and between 2,924,152 2/196O 403/239 A the tool spindle assembly and the tool storage cong veyor for automatically transferring tools directly bears e e a. 3,054,333 9,1962 Brainard et aL 74/826 X tween the tool storage conveyor and the tool sp ndle. 3,238,615 3/1966 Leone et al 29/568 13 Claims, 57 Drawing Figures Z6 9 1 W 2 L 1 is O 6 12 i I l l 1 I 1 0 l6 5. Bond/e, 5.51/210/1 s Mei/1119 WW ATTORNEY INVENIZOR a 3 M A, Q

2:: 0 er tiames 0. Le

mimim 519m 3.789.500

SHEEI DSUF 38 TZQ . k l: #2 I 9 INVENTORS.

Dale I Borzdze, BY F066? 5. 5z/zt0/I a James 3 Levelling PAIENTEBFEB 5 m4 sum 07 or 38 INVENIORS. Dale .Z Bond/e, amber! 5. $21 ziozz e1 Jame; A f wezzmg WM A'l TORNEY Pmmmm 59914 37 9.500 sum near 38 INVENTORS.

L if Dale 5022 1e BY fewer? 511 012 6 James 0. [ea/ailing PATENTEB FEB 5 {974 SHEEI 110F 38 INVENTORS." g fff a 0 er a on.

ames a awe/[my ATTORNEY PATENTEB FEB 5 sum 12 or 38 vN/ wk (1 E TOR Da/e x swdz e, 5 James D. Lame/[i229 W 2% lioww ATTORNEY Prmmrw 5 m4 saw 130; 3 8

6 Dale INVEN TORS. Handle, BY foberf 561122012 ,5 James 12.6 ewezdm W 74 MW ATTORNEY PATENTEUFEB 51914 sum mar '38 Eli, I

INVENJ' fla/e 1 60/24 BY floberf .5. 5112101; .5 Jame; Z7, [ewe/[112 W filT T O R N E Y mmsnrza m4 3.789.500

sum 18 or a Z5 170 u km" 52 16 173 g t 1 173 L! J T 1775/ I 17 228227 {72 I T f, -{ii 167 W" 22405? MW 1 w I 16 170 172 169 172 170 w x WWW INVENTORS.

Dale J Handle BY Faber! 5.5113012 6 ATTORNEY PATENTEUFEB 5 I974 SHEET ISOF 38 mm a Z Y mwmm m mdfiw m mflw w m fl fim 0 HA Mu J 0 mL sh A .HILIL SR 

1. In a machine tool, the combination of: a. a tool spindle assembly including a rotatable tool spindle operatively mounted for movement along a first axis; b. a work table for supporting a workpiece for a cutting operation thereon by a tool in said tool spindle; c. means for operatively mounting said work table adjacent said tool spindle for movement along two axes which are perpendicular to each other and to said first axis; d. a tool storage means carried on said machine and disposed in a position spaced apart from said tool spindle and adapted to move a tool into a tool change position with the axis of the tool parallel to and in alignment with the axis of the tool spindle; e. a tool changer means disposed between said tool storage means and said tool spindle for transferring tools directly between said tool storage means and said tool spindle to change the tools held by the tool spindle in a predetermined sequence, whereby a plurality of machining operations can be made automatically on a workpiece mounted on said work table; f. a column assembly comprising a pair of laterally spaced column members carried on a machine base; g. said spindle assembly is operatively mounted on said column members for movement along said first axis; h. said tool storage means is mounted on said column members above said spindle assembly; wherein said storage Means comprises:
 1. a horizontally disposed endless conveyor chain including a plurality of tool pots hingedly connected together by a plurality of vertically disposed pins;
 2. means fo moving said endless conveyor in a predetermined sequence of movement for co-action with said tool changer means for transferring tools between the conveyor and the tool spindle;
 3. said tool pots are provided with a tool holder receptacle for releasably holding a tool holder with a tool mounted therein on a horizontal axis;
 4. each of said tool pots is provided with means for indicating that a tool holder is mounted in said pots; and
 5. said means for indicating that a tool holder is mounted in said pots comprises a vertically disposed pin slidably mounted in each pot and movable downwardly by gravity if the tool pot is vacant, and movably upwardly when a tool holder is inserted into a tool pot to indicate that a tool holder is present.
 2. means fo moving said endless conveyor in a predetermined sequence of movement for co-action with said tool changer means for transferring tools between the conveyor and the tool spindle;
 2. a saddle slide assembly slidably mounted on said X-axis ways and carrying Z-axis ways;
 2. a saddle slide assembly slidably mounted on said X-axis ways and carrying Z-axis ways;
 2. a tool changer arm operatively mounted on the outer end of said actuating shaft;
 2. In a machine tool, the combination of: a. a tool spindle assembly including a rotatable tool spindle operatively mounted for movement along a first axis; b. a work table for supporting a workpiece for a cutting operation thereon by a tool in said tool spindle; c. means for operatively mounting said work table adjacent said tool spindle for movement along two axes which are perpendicular to each other and to said first axis; d. a tool storage means carried on said machine and disposed in a position spaced apart from said tool spindle and adapted to move a tool into a tool change position with the axis of the tool parallel to and in alignment with the axis of the tool spindle; e. a column assembly comprising a pair of laterally spaced column members carried on a machine base; f. said spindle assembly is operatively mounted on said column members for movement along said first axis; g. a tool changer means disposed between said tool storage means and said tool spindle for transferring tools directly between said tool storage means and said tool spindle to change the tools held by the tool spindle in a predetermined sequence, whereby a plurality of machining operations can be made automatically on a workpiece mounted on said work table; wherein said tool changing means comprises:
 2. a saddle slide assembly mounted on said X-axis ways and carrying Z-axis wasy;
 3. In a machine tool, the combination of: a. a tool spindle assembly including a rotatable tool spindle operatively mounted for movement along a first axis; b. a work table for supporting a workpiece for a cutting operation thereon by a tool in said tool spindle; c. means for operatively mounting said work table adjacent said tool spindle for movement along two axes which are perpendicular to each other and to said first axis; d. a tool storage means carried on said machine and disposed in a position spaced apart from said tool spindle and adapted to move a tool into a tool change position with the axis of the tool parallel to and in alignment with the axis of the tool spindle; e. a tool changer means disposed between said tool storage means and said tool spindle for transferring tools directly between said tool storage means and said tool spindle to change the tools held by the tool spindle in a predetermined sequence, whereby a plurality of machining operations can be made automatically on a workpiece mounted on said work table; f. a column assembly comprising a pair of laterally spaced column members carried on a machine base; g. said spindle assembly is operatively mounted on said column members for movement along said first axis; h. a draw bar rotatably mounted in said spindle and having a drawbolt on the front end thereof for operative threading engagement with a tool holder inserted into said spindle; i. a fluid operated drive motor; j. an electric clutch interconnecting said fluid operated drive motor and the rear end of said draw bar for rotating the draw bar selectively in a clamping or unclamping direction of rotation; and k. a pressure operated switch operatively connected to said fluid operated drive motor for disengaging said electric clutch when said fluid drive motor has developed a predetermined clamping pressure.
 3. a power drive means mounted on said X-axis ways assembly and engagable with said saddle slide assembly for moving the same along the X-axis ways;
 3. power drive means operatively connected to said shaft for moving said shaft longitudinally to extend and retract said tool changer arm;
 3. a power drive means mounted on said X-axis ways assembly and engagable with said saddle slide assembly fOr moving the same along the X-axis ways;
 3. a power drive means mounted on said X-axis ways assembly and engageable with said saddle slide assembly for moving the same along the X-axis ways;
 3. said tool pots are provided with a tool holder receptacle for releasably holding a tool holder with a tool mounted therein on a horizontal axis;
 4. a work table slide slidably mounted on said Z-axis ways;
 4. power drive means operatively connected to said shaft for rotating said shaft through said rotary movements; wherein said power drive means for rotating said shaft comprises: A. a gear formed on said shaft; B. a gear rack meshed with said gear for turning the same; C. fluid operated cylinder means operatively connected to said gear rack for operating the same; wherein said fluid operated cylinder means comprises: I. a first fluid cylinder having a cylinder rod secured to a housing in which said shaft is mounted; II. a second fluid cylinder attached to said first fluid cylinder and carried thereon and having a cylinder rod connected to said gear rack; and, III. means for slidably supporting said fluid cylinders for movement relative to said shaft housing.
 4. each of said tool pots is provided with means for indicating that a tool holder is mounted in said pots; and
 4. a work table slide slidably mounted on said Z-axis ways;
 4. In a machine tool, the combination of: a. a tool spindle assembly including a rotatable tool spindle operatively mounted for movement along a first axis; b. a work table for supporting a workpiece for a cutting operation thereon by a tool in said tool spindle; c. means for operatively mounting said work table adjacent said tool spindle for movement along two axes which are perpendicular to each other and to said first axis; d. a tool storage means carried on said machine and disposed in a position spaced apart from said tool spindle and adapted to move a tool into a tool change position with the axis of the tool parallel to and in alignment with the axis of the tool spindle; e. a tool changer means disposed between said tool storage means and said tool spindle for transferring tools directly between said tool storage means and said tool spindle to change the tools held by the tool spindle in a predetermined sequence, whereby a plurality of machining operations can be made automatically on a workpiece mounted on said work table; f. a column assembly comprising a pair of laterally spaced column members carried on a machine base; g. said spindle assembly is operatively mounted on said column members for movement along said first axis; h. a draw bar rotatably mounted in said spindle and having a drawbolt on the front end thereof for operative threading engagement with a tool holder inserted into said spindle i. a fluid operated drive motor; j. an electric clutch interconnecting said fluid operated drive motor and the rear end of said draw bar for rotating the draw bar selectively in a clamping or unclamping direction of rotation; and k. said draw bar is connected to said electric clutch by a spring biased spline means, whereby said draw bar is provided with a constant forward bias toward the front end of the spindle.
 4. a work table slide slidably mounted on said Z-axis ways;
 5. a power drive means mounted on said saddle slide assembly and engageable with said work table slide for moving the same along said Z-axis ways;
 5. said means for indicating that a tool holder is mounted in said pots comprises a vertically disposed pin slidably mounted in each pot and movable downwardly by gravity if the tool pot is vacant, and movably upwardly when a tool holder is inserted into a tool pot to indicate that a tool holder is present.
 5. In a machine tool, the combination of: a. a tool spindle assembly including a rotatable tool spindle operatively mounted for movement along a first axis; b. a work table for supporting a workpiece for a cutting operation therein by a tool in said tool spindle; wherein said means for mounting said work table adjacent said tool spindle includes:
 5. a power drive means mounted on said saddle slide assembly and engageable with said work table slide for moving the same along said Z-axis ways;
 5. a power drive means mounted on said saddle slide assembly and engageable with said work table slide for moving the same along said Z-axis ways;
 6. means for rotatably mounting said work table on said work table slide;
 6. means for rotatably mounting said work table on said work table slide;
 6. means for rotatably mounting said work table on said work table slide;
 6. In a machine tool, the combination of: a. a tool spindle assembly including a rotatable tool spindle operatively mounted for movement along a first axis; b. a work table for supporting a workpiece for a cutting operation thereon by a tool in said tool spindle; wherein said means for mounting said work table adjacent said tool spindle includes:
 7. means for raising said work table and indexing said work table;
 7. means for raising said work table and indexing said work table; wherein said means for indexing said work table includes: A. a circular cam operatively connected to said work table; B. a pair of radially disposed cam follower rods slidably mounted in said work table slide, and each of said cam follower rods having a roller on one end in rolling engagement with said circular cam and having spring means on the other end for normally biasing the rod against said circular cam; C. each of said cam follower rods carrying a pair of limit switch operators fixed thereon for operating a limit switch on either an inward movement or an outward movement; and D. an indented cam disposed on the periphery of said circular cam for operative engagement with said cam follower rods and a projecting cam spaced 90* from said indented cam on the periphery of said circular cam for operative engagement with said cam follower rods, for controlling the indexing of said rotary table when it is in a raised portion; d. a storage means carried on said machine and disposed in a position spaced apart from said tool spindle and adapted to move a tool into a tool change position with the axis of the tool parallel to and in alignment with the axis of the tool spindle; and e. a tool changer means disposed between said tool storage means and said tool spindle for transferring tools directly between said tool storage means and said tool spindle to change the tools held by the tool spindle in a predetermined sequence, whereby a plurality of machining operations can be made automatically on a workpiece mounted on said work table.
 7. In a machine tool, the combination: a. a tool spindle assembly including a rotatable tool spindle operatively mounted for movement along a first axis; b. a work table for supporting a workpiece for a cutting operation thereon by a tool in said tool spindle; c. means for operatively mounting said work table adjacent said tool spindle for movement along two axes which are perpendicular to each other and to said first axis; wherein said means for mounting said work table adjacent said tool spindle includes:
 7. means for raising said work table and indexing said work table;
 8. a spring biased clamping means for normally retaining said work table on said work table slide against rotation thereof and being disabled by said means for raising said work table when said work table is indexed;
 8. In a machine tool, the combination comprising: a. a machine base; b. a work table slide operatively mounted on said machine base; c. a rotary work table; d. means for rotabably mounting said rotary work table on said slide; e. means for rotating said rotary work table; f. means for retaining said rotary work table in a lockeD position against rotation; and, g. means for raising said rotary work table to an unlocked position to permit said means for rotating the work table to rotate the table to a new position.
 8. a spring biased clamping means for normally retaining said work table on said work table slide against rotation thereof and being disabled by means for raising said work table when said work table is indexed;
 9. A machine tool as defined in claim 8, including: a. means for controlling the means for rotating said rotary work table for indexing the rotary work table through a predetermined rotary distance.
 9. means for holding said work table in a predetermined position when it is raised for indexing relative to said coupling; wherein said means for holding said work table in a predetermined position includes; A. a locating pin fixed against movement with said table when the table is raised and having an inverted conical lower edge, and a locating ring movable upwardly with said table when the table is raised and having an inverted conical inner periphery which seats on said inverted conical lower edge on said locating pin to hold said table in a raised position relative to the coupling teeth on said coupling parts so as to eliminate backlash effect when the table is lowered after it has been indexed;
 9. means for holding said work table in a predetermined position when it is raised for indexing relative to said coupling;
 10. said coupling is provided with an upper part and a lower part and each of said coupling parts is provided with coupling teeth which mesh with each other when the table is in a lowered posiTion; c. means for operatively mounting said work table adjacent said tool spindle for movement along two axis which are perpendicular to each other and to said first axis; d. a tool storage means carried on said machine and disposed in a position spaced apart from said tool spindle and adapted to move a tool into a tool change position with the axis of the tool parallel to and in alignment with the axis of the tool spindle; and e. a tool changer means disposed between said tool storage means and said tool spindle for transferring tools directly between said tool storage means and said tool spindle to change the tools held by the tool spindle in a predetermined sequence, whereby a plurality of machining opearations can be made automatically on a workpiece mounted on said work table.
 10. said coupling is provided with an upper part and a lower part and each of said coupling parts is provided with a coupling teeth which mesh with each other when the table is in a lowered position; c. means for operatively mounting said work table adjacent said tool spindle for movement along two axes which are perpendicular to each other and to said first axis; d. a tool storage means carried on said machine and disposed in a position spaced apart from said tool spindle and adapted to move a tool into a tool change position with the axis of the tool parallel to and in alignment with the axis of the tool spindle; and e. a tool changer means disposed between said tool storage means and said tool spindle for transferring tools directly between said tool storage means and said tool spindle to change the tools held by the tool spindle in a predetermined sequence, whereby a plurality of machining operations can be made automatically on a workpiece mounted on said work table.
 10. A machine tool as defined in claim 9, wherein: a. said means for controlling the means for rotating said rotary work table includes a rotary cam means and a limit switch control means operated by said cam means.
 11. A machine tool as defined in claim 8, wherein: a. said means for retaining said rotary work table in a locked position includes a toothed coupling means and a spring means.
 12. A machine tool as defined in claim 8, wherein; a. said means for raising said rotary work table includes a hydraulically operated power cylinder.
 13. A machine tool as defined in claim 11, including: a. means for holding the rotary work table in a predetermined position relative to said toothed coupling means while the rotary work table is indexed to a new position. 